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5 Questions with designer Michelle Yu

SINGAPORE — Here’s a festival you don’t see very often: The first Singapore T-Shirt Festival, organised by Legendary Social Tees, will be showcasing T-shirt designs by various Singaporean artists. And yes, you can purchase T-shirts from the featured designers.

SINGAPORE — Here’s a festival you don’t see very often: The first Singapore T-Shirt Festival, organised by Legendary Social Tees, will be showcasing T-shirt designs by various Singaporean artists. And yes, you can purchase T-shirts from the featured designers.

For Michelle Yu, a designer who creates artisanal stationary and products for online art store The Gentlemen’s Press, this festival is a new experience. Yu said it was a breath of fresh air to be able to do something different from printing; although she added that her art, no matter what she did, was inspired by her own personal style.

“But only to a certain extent. Usually, I will simply go with black and white, but I added some blobs of colour to this (T-shirt) piece,” she said.

Her dream project would be to collaborate with Australian musician Nick Cave, who is best known for his moody, atmospheric music.

“It will be interesting to do a series of drawings based on interpretations of his music,” she explained.

Q: Is it different designing prints for T-shirts?

A: It’s much more flexible to design for T-shirts as compared to anything (involving) letterpress. Working with almost no restrictions, I can stretch the level of intricacy and number of colours in any way I like; whereas for letterpress, I have to think about the number of colours or whether the lines are too fine to be printed ... but then of course they produce very different looks.

Q: Do you wear a lot of T-shirts? What’s your favourite?

A: Yes, T-shirts are a necessity in my wardrobe. I don’t really have a favourite style, but I do like oversized tees (because) they are just incredibly comfortable.

Q: What does your daily outfit normally consist of?

A: Usually a basic tee paired with a maxi-shirt. Shoes will either be Vans or boots.

Q: Which item do you think perfects the outfit?

A: The maxi-skirt, because it’s long but not a hindrance — and it goes well with most tops and shoes!

Q: Could you recommend a place for our readers to check out quirky fashion/design items?

A: (laughs) I’m probably not the best person to give such suggestions, as I usually stick to MUJI — simple and comfortable. Tina Villareal

The Singapore T-shirt Festival will run till July 29 at the National Design Centre.

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